The document analyzes survey data from 1,342 users of an on-demand transit service to understand its social benefits. Most users have low incomes and do not own vehicles. They use the service frequently for a variety of purposes, especially work commutes. User satisfaction is high but could be improved in areas like reliability. The on-demand transit provides opportunities for riders to participate more in activities at night that increase their well-being.

1. JUNE 4, 2020
STEVEN FARBER, YIXUE ZHANG, MISCHA YOUNG
THE SOCIAL BENEFITS OF ON-DEMAND
TRANSIT

2. BACKGROUND
• New mobility technologies create new opportunities for improving the
lives and wellbeing of socially disadvantaged groups
• Municipalities and transit authorities are inundated by new
opportunities to partner with companies to pilot new mobility services
• How should we be evaluating the “return on investment” for transport
interventions targeted at disadvantaged groups?
2

3. 3
Lucas, K. (2012). Transport and social exclusion: Where are we now?. Transport policy, 20, 105-113.
Social Exclusion
Inaccessibility
Transport
Poverty
Transport
Disadvantage
e.g. no car, poor
transit service
Social
Disadvantage
e.g. no job,
low income,
poor health

4. 4

5. ACCESSIBILITY AND ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION
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6. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
• How can we quantify the social benefits of on-
demand transit?
1. Who are the users?
2. Use frequency and purpose?
3. What are their satisfaction levels with the
service?
4. What opportunities have the services provided?
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7. SURVEY DATA COLLECTION
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• November 12 – December 21, 2019
• 1,342 of them have used the service for at least once.
• Recruitment via email and fliers
• 263 responses. 19.60% response rate.

8. PART 1
WHO ARE THE USERS?
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9. AGE, GENDER, HOUSEHOLD SIZE
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Note: We only collect responses from riders who are over 15 years old.
The minimum age in our sample is 16, and the maximum is 63.

10. EMPLOYMENT STATUS AND INCOME
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75% International,
mostly India

11. VEHICLE OWNERSHIP AND ACCESS
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12. PART 2
USE FREQUENCY AND
PURPOSE?
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13. Frequency and Mode Switching

14. ODT TRIP PURPOSES
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15. PART 3
ODT USER
SATISFACTION
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16. 16
PERFORMANCE

17. 17
SERVICE QUALITY

18. PART 4
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES
HAS ODT PROVIDED
FOR RIDERS?
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19. More Frequent:
- Work
- Recreation/Social
- Visiting
- Shopping
- Groceries
No Change:
- Appointments
- School
- Exercise

22. CONCLUSIONS
• ODT is providing a service to low-income, mostly employed, riders
• Riders are frequent, and frequency is on the rise
• Much of the ridership being drawn from active modes
• Satisfaction is fairly high, but riders suggested improvements to
reliability and wait times
• The majority of riders (72%) used the ODT for night commute.
• ODT gives riders opportunities to participate in recreational and
social activities at night, which increased their well-being.
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23. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• Team: Yixue Zhang and Mischa Young
• Funders: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada,
CUTRIC
• Partners: Pantonium Inc., Belleville Transit